Salmon Bakes at Indian Henry’s Village

This picture and article appeared in the 50th Anniversary Edition of The Eatonville Dispatch, July 23, 1959.

“A poignant memory of persons who lived in the Eatonville area early in the century, and ofttimes talked about now, are the salmon bakes at Indian Henry‘s village near the Nisqually west of town.

A keen friendship existed between the villagers and their new white neighbors and invitations were often extended to them to attend the bakes. They would come bearing potluck food to contribute to the meal. Pictured here tending the salmon placed on T sticks around the aromatic embers of burning maple are (left to right): Mrs. George Barr, Sr., Mrs. George Barr, Jr., and Mrs. Silas Barr. Sr.”

The second photo is one of the first settler Olava Kjelstad with one of the Barr wives. If anyone knows which one, please let me know.

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7 thoughts on “Salmon Bakes at Indian Henry’s Village”

Why do you think that is Mrs. Barr? The copy I have when Carol gave pics to Pioneer Farms states this is Annie Sutterlick (Indian Henry’s third wife). Does the back of that pic say differently?

The other pic of the salmon bake is the Barr’s but they are not at the Indian Henry’s village. The Barr’s had their bakes up from their property past the present day Burwash’s (Kjelstad’s)at the confluence of the Ohop and Nisqullay Rivers. Matt Kjelstad gives an account of one such bake.

Yes, the picture I have says Mrs. Barr, but a couple photos also say “Mrs. Barr?” I have several pictures with Olava standing beside different Native American women. I received photos and letters from the Barrs that came from Steve Burwash and with the Kjelstad photos. Is this making any sense at all? 🙂

I was looking at a 1886 map of the Ohop Valley area and the map plainly states that Indian Henry’s homestead is located in the same area, just south of the Kjelstad farm extending to where Ohop Creek meets the Nisqually River. This was where the salmon bakes took place.